The Week That Was: 10/23 -10/29

STAR OF THE WEEK:

Joel Embiid

Few Philadelphia 76ers’ players embody the current struggle of this basketball debacle like “rookie” center Joel Embiid. After two years, two surgeries and one removed General Manager the seven footer finally hit the floor……………in moderation.

​Embiid provided legitimate hope and promise performing against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, while only playing a combined 38 minutes. The big man was active defensively blocking four shots and altering countless others. Offensively, the former Kansas JayHawk was unbashful getting up 24 shots in just 38 minutes, four of those shots came from deep.

The Sixers have sold fans on promise and Joel delivered on that promise, albeit in moderation and in losses. Time will tell if the enthusiasm the center injected into the city will carry fans through another inevitably “Process” embracing season.   

STAT OF THE WEEK:

Four the hard way

As the curtain unfolds on Joel Embiid, the player who may have actually cost former G.M. Sam Hinkie his place on the throne, Dario Saric, also finally stepped on the NBA hardwood.

And may need to immediately step off of it!

The Croatian forward struggled mightily in his two games of action, shooting a combined 4 for 21. Saric looked overmatched and appeared three to four steps slower than opposing NBA forwards. However, he was not done any favors by being thrust into the starting lineup, as the organization struggles to make amends for the disservice it has done to Nerlens Noel.

There should be little doubt that the former EuroLeague star will find his way in time. 

THIS WEEK IN 1982 – 83 (THE CHAMPIONSHIP YEAR): 

Philadelphia opened one of their most anticipated seasons on a Friday night in New York, against an overhauled Knicks club. The addition of center Moses Malone during the off-season was being billed as the missing piece to the 76ers championship aspirations, and Malone would deliver NY with 21 points and 17 rebounds.

​Yet, second year guard Andrew Toney and established cultural icon Dr. J would also provide strong performances. Toney would go for 33 points in New York leading Philly to the win in the Big Apple 104 – 89. Just 24 hours later it was the good Doctor’s turn to shine as he would go for 36 points and open the Spectrum up with a win for the new season, as the Sixers would defeat the New Jersey Nets 110 – 99. 

TWEET OF THE WEEK:

Who's responsible for taking care of #Sixers players legs? The Sopranos? For fuck's sake...

— Mateusz Babiarz (@matbabiarz) October 23, 2016